Page 16 of Inevitable

She whimpers and nods her head frantically as her body shakes. I step back and let go of her as I shove her out the front door. She crumples to the ground and begins weeping as she rubs her reddened throat. Her eyes are practically pleading that I change my mind. I roll my eyes at her and slam the door shut. Pathetic.

Colette has been getting on my nerves lately. She has fooled herself into thinking she is in love with me. I think she sees herself becoming the matriarch of the Mariano’s. Keep dreaming sweetheart.

It was always simple. I call, she comes, we fuck, she leaves. For a while now she has been trying to find any excuse to stay the night, have a meal or attend an event together. I turn her down every time but clearly, I was not being blunt enough.

I do not typically put my hands on a woman but when she spoke about Ashlynn, I snapped. It may be irrational, but I cannot help but be protective of her. She is special and precious and deserves to be treated as such. Just being in the same room with her is like breathing oxygen for the first time after being under water for years.

Though now she is much feistier than I remember, I can’t tell if it pisses me off or turns me on. When she slapped me, I was completely shocked, then I was angry and then I wanted to devour her. The woman drives me crazy, in all the best and worst ways.

I drag my hands through my hair and pull for a minute as I head up the stairs to my room. Fuck I don’t need this. I have the Farelli stirring up shit, an entire shipment of coke from Guyana never made it to our docks and Freddy Dorton, the man who sells the majority of our weapons on the streets, was pinched this week. I don’t need Ashlynn Adams causing me more headaches.

As I walk down the hallway to my room I pause for a moment when I hear something. I look to Ashlynn’s door and put my ear up against it. Crying. She is crying. Is it because of me? Because of Colette? Shit. She has it all wrong. I raise my hand to knock but think better of it. The last time I went into her room she slapped me. Her displeasure with me was even more clear this evening.

I know that it is a good thing that she hates me, it makes everything easier. Good luck convincing my heart of that though. I slump against the wall and slide down to sit, my head in my hands. I don’t know how long I sit there for. I just stay and listen to the soft sounds of her pained sobs. It is a haunting melodic sound that soothes my soul and breaks my heart at the same time.

I wish she knew how I really felt. I wish I never walked away from her that night. I wish that we could have another shot. But I know better. Once broken, love is like shattered glass. If we try to piece it back together it will never look the same and will only leave us hurt and bleeding.

Chapter Seven

Ashlynn

The next day passes much like the previous, except when nighttime sets in I refuse to leave my room. I don’t know who I may run into this time. Is Colette the only girlfriend he has? A powerful man who is as handsome as Luca could have a whole harem for all I know.

I am laying in my bed bored and exhausted. My tears dried up hours ago and I am just…done. I can’t believe I ever loved that man. I hate myself that I feel like I still do. Why does the heart always want what it can’t have?

A knock from my door shakes me out of my thoughts. This one is a little heavier than Marisol’s usual which causes me to stiffen. He wouldn’t.

Luca cracks the door and slowly walks in, shutting it behind him. I guess he would. I sit up quickly and hastily wipe at my face trying to hide any evidence that may be left from my marathon crying last night and today. It doesn’t seem to do the trick because his eyes trace over my face and I see a crack in his mask, for a moment he looks regretful.

I try to not make eye contact with him, but he is staring me down with a softness that I recognize. My heart beats out of rhythm for a moment at the compassion written across his face. It makes me want to run to him and fall apart into his arms. He was always my confidant, my safe place when things around me felt like they were crumbling. But I know this sudden mood shift is not permanent, so I stay cemented in my place, staring back at him.

“Ashlynn,” he says softly and takes a step forward. “You ah… You were right,” he says as he rubs the back of his neck almost nervously.

I don’t make any effort to be closer, still sitting up in my bed watching him. Wait what? Did I just hear that right?

“I think my parents would be disappointed in the man I have become. My position comes with a certain set of expectations. It seems in taking on my responsibility, I have lost sight of where I come from. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.”

I stare at him like he is an alien. He is apologizing like my Luca, but he still looks like the asshole Mob Boss. I am not sure what to do or say so I just continue to stare. He drags his hand through his hair and sighs heavily.

“I also apologize for what I said the other day. I was speaking out of anger, not honesty. I hope you know that. I just…you drive me insane.”

I lift an eyebrow at him but don’t offer any further acknowledgment. His shoulders drop ever so slightly in what looks like defeat. He is clearly having a hard time apologizing and I have to admit, I am kind of enjoying his misery.

“I owe you another apology, for how Colette spoke to you last night. I am not sure what all she told you, but I can guarantee it was all bullshit. She is nothing to me and does not understand when she is not wanted somewhere. I have made sure she will never be back again.”

He looks at me like he is waiting for me to jump up and down in gratitude. Don’t get me wrong I am glad I won’t see that woman again. But just because he has decided not to have her come to the house anymore doesn’t change anything.

Luca seems to notice that I will not be accepting his apologies or thanking him anytime soon and his mask slips back into place. His honey brown eyes turn black and cold, his jaw is tight as he fastens his suit coat before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind him.

He is the one that has put this icy wall between us, why is he surprised that I am simply returning the behavior. I don’t care how much I loved him, still do love him, I will never allow someone to treat me the way he has tried.

-

The next few days are spent much like the others. Today I am sick of being trapped inside this room, and no one ever said I couldn’t leave the room, right? I mean the guard posted at my door for those first two nights of me being here was kind of a hint but there isn’t one there now, so I am going to take advantage of it.

I wander down the stairs quietly and see the front door, there is no one around as I creep up to it. Just before I open it, I peek through the glass window to the side and see several men milling around the driveway. Shit, so leaving out the front isn’t an option. I tip toe across the floor and start wandering down hallways, trying to find another exit but this place is like a maze and I am officially lost.

Finally, I smell something sweet and delicious and follow the smell and the sound of banging pots and pans. When I arrive, I see a heavy-set Italian man bouncing around in the kitchen in a white chef’s uniform with a tray of pastries in his hand.

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